Cored rock analysis planning through CT images

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the disclosure include methods, machines, and non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more computer programs stored therein to enhance core analysis planning for a plurality of core samples of subsurface material. Embodiments can include positioning electronic depictions of structure of encased core samples of subsurface material on a display and determining portions of each of the images as different planned sample types thereby to virtually mark each of the images. Planned sample types can include, for example, full diameter samples, special core analysis samples, conventional core analysis samples, and mechanical property samples. Embodiments further can include transforming physical properties of encased core samples of subsurface material into images responsive to one or more penetrative scans by use of one or more computerized tomography (CT) scanners.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.62/186,937, filed Jun. 30, 2015, and titled “CORED ROCK ANALYSISPLANNING THROUGH CT IMAGES.” For purposes of United States patentpractice, this application incorporates the contents of the Provisionalapplication by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to hydrocarbon reservoir productionand, more specifically, to methods, machines, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having computer program stored therein toenhance core sample analysis planning.

Description of the Related Art

During rock coring in development and exploration of a hydrocarbonreservoir to produce hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, rock coresamples of subsurface material are collected. The process of obtainingthese samples, called cores or core samples, produces a corebore holethat is formed into and defined by and traverses the subsurface (thatis, the rock or other material beneath the surface). A core sample isthe extracted subsurface material (such as rock or stone) from thesubsurface through the newly formed corebore. In some instances, coresamples can be taken from and compose a portion of a reservoir orformation. A corebore is typically vertical or slightly deviated as itextends from the surface into the subsurface. In some circumstances,however, a core sample may be extracted from a highly deviated,substantially horizontal, or even inverted horizontal (inclining)corebore or wellbore. Following extraction, cores may be stored inprotective containers, transported to a laboratory or other location,and analyzed to evaluate characteristics of the hydrocarbon reservoir orsubsurface. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1 (Prior Art), wholecore samples may be cored (that is, extracted from a corebore) at step401. The samples may be cut and placed in tubes at step 402 thentransported to a core laboratory at step 403. For instance, the coresmay be transported in groups of tubes 421. The process of coring wholecore samples at step 401 to transporting the samples to a corelaboratory at step 403 make take one week to several months, forinstance. Upon arrival at a core laboratory, cores may be put in a queueat step 404, and further analysis may wait until the cores are taken outof their core barrels and laid on a table for viewing and marking 405.Analysis then may include gamma ray measurement at step 406. The coresthen may be opened for taking 360 degree images at step 407 anddisplaying on the table at step 408. Further, the cores may be selectedand marked at step 409, as will be understood by those skilled in theart. Core analysis planning may include determining which core samplesto use for further testing, including identifying core samples fromwhich to take plugs or other samples and determining the location ofsuch plugs or other samples within the identified core samples. Theprocess of analysis from putting the cores in the queue at step 404 toselecting and marking the cores at step 409 may take two weeks toseveral months, for example. Then, sampling and testing may begin,including coring (that is, taking samples from) the core samples at step410 to produce plugs 422 and performing conventional core analysis atstep 411, special core analysis at step 412, rock mechanics at step 413,and other tests at step 414, as will be understood by those skilled inthe art. The plugs 422 then may be stored in containers 423.

SUMMARY

Core analysis planning, however, often may be prepared with only alimited amount of available information about the actual core samples.That is, the actual state of the cores (such as the level of fracturesor rubble sections in the cores) may not yet be known. Since the actualstate of the cores may not yet be known when core analysis planningdecisions are made, estimations of plug or whole core rock samples (thatis, the type, quantity, and location of plugs or other test samples, forinstance) may not be accurate and may result in confusing expectations.For example, fractures and rubble sections in a core may restrict thetype, quantity, and location of plugs or other test samples that may betaken from such a core. Such fractures and rubble sections may not beidentifiable until the core is taken out of its protective barrel,cleaned, and examined on a viewing table. These limitations may producean inaccurate estimation of the number of testing samples that may betaken. Therefore, final, accurate planning or any required adjustmentsmay be made only after the opening of the rock samples on the table, aswill be understood by those skilled in the art, where the rock coresamples may be examined and locations of the plug samples may be marked.This method may be quite a lengthy process and may require supportingtechniques to enhance accuracy as well as speed in the decision-makingstage.

Applicant has recognized that, in existing types of core analysisplanning, the actual state of the cores may not yet be known and thatthis limited knowledge impairs the effectiveness of core analysisplanning. Advantageously, embodiments of the disclosure can enable anadvanced core analysis planning by forming an image of the state of thecores using computerized tomography (CT) scanning images while the coresare still in their protective core barrels and integrating these CTimages into the planning process. In addition to integrating the CTscanning images into the core analysis planning process, embodiments ofthe disclosure advantageously can provide virtual marking of samplelocations. Embodiments thus advantageously can enable enhanced speed andaccuracy in core sample planning analysis. Further, embodiments of thedisclosure can simulate positions of planned testing samples, such asplugs or full diameter samples, on the core samples depicted in the CTscanning images. Embodiments of the disclosure thus advantageously caninclude a special purpose simulator machine, for example.

Embodiments of the disclosure can include methods, machines, andnon-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more computerprograms stored therein to enhance core analysis planning for coresamples of subsurface material. For example, a method according to anembodiment can include positioning a plurality of electronic,two-dimensional, substantially rectangular depictions of structure ofone or more real, three-dimensional, substantially cylindrical coresamples of subsurface material in a substantially side-by-sidearrangement on a display. Each of the one or more core samples can havea first end and a second end. Further, the second end of each of the oneor more core samples can be associated with an original location withina corebore downhole relative to an original location within the coreboreof the first end of the respective one of the one or more core samples.Additionally, each core sample can be encased in a substantiallycylindrical container thereby to define an encased core, and theplurality of depictions of structure of the one or more encased coresthereby can define a plurality of pilot images. Each of the plurality ofpilot images can have a first end of the pilot image, which can beassociated with the first end of the respective core sample depicted inthe respective pilot image. Each of the plurality of pilot images alsocan have a second end of the pilot image, which can be associated withthe second end of the respective core sample depicted in the respectivepilot image. Further, the respective first end of each of the pilotimages can be aligned along an imaginary line substantially near anupper end of an electronic user interface. A method according to anembodiment also can include determining each of one or more portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images as one of a plurality of plannedsample types thereby to virtually mark each of the plurality of pilotimages.

In some instances, the one or more core samples can be a plurality ofcore samples. Furthermore, the plurality of core samples can have asequential order associated with original locations by downhole positionof the plurality of core samples within the corebore. For example, thefirst end of each of the plurality of core samples—other than the firstcore sample in the sequential order—can be associated with an originallocation within the corebore downhole relative to an original locationwithin the corebore of the second end of the respective prior coresample in the sequential order. In addition, the plurality of pilotimages can be arranged in an order on the electronic user interfacethereby to define a display order. A position within the display ordercan be associated with the position within the sequential order of theplurality of core samples of the respective core sample depicted in therespective pilot image, for example. In addition, the display order canbe one of the following: from a left side to a right side of theelectronic user interface, from the right side to the left side of theelectronic interface, from the upper end to a lower end of theelectronic user interface, and from the lower end to the upper end ofthe electronic user interface. Further, a method also can includesuperimposing a geometric shape on each of the one or more portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images responsive to the virtual mark ofthe plurality of pilot images, in some circumstances. Each of theplurality of planned sample types can have a predetermined geometricshape associated therewith. Additionally, the respective geometric shapeassociated with each of the plurality of planned sample types can bedepicted as a different color. The plurality of planned sample types caninclude, for example, a full diameter sample, a special core analysis(SCAL) sample, a conventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and amechanical property sample. Further, determining each of the one or moreportions of each of the plurality of pilot images as one of theplurality of planned sample types can include simulating a respectiveposition of a planned testing sample on the respective core sampledepicted in the respective pilot image. A method further can includedisplaying (1) measurements of depth of the original locations of theplurality of core samples within the corebore and (2) measurements ofdepth of the original locations of the portions of each of the pluralityof core samples associated with each of the one or more virtually markedportions of each of the plurality of pilot images.

Additionally, in some circumstances, each of the one or moresubstantially cylindrical containers can be a protective barrier made ofone or more of a plurality of materials that are at least partiallytransparent to electromagnetic energy, and the plurality of materialscan include aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cardboard, polyethylene(PE), polypropylene (PP), carbon fiber, fiberglass, polycarbonates, andpoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Further, a method also can includetransforming physical properties of the one or more encased cores intothe plurality of pilot images responsive to one or more penetrativescans of each of the one or more protective barriers by use of one ormore computerized tomography (CT) scanners.

Embodiments of the disclosure also can include machines to enhance coreanalysis planning for core samples of subsurface material. For example,a machine according to an embodiment can include one or more processorsand one or more displays in communication with the one or moreprocessors. The one or more displays also can be configured to displayan electronic user interface thereon. The electronic user interface canhave an upper end, a lower end, a left side, and a right side. A machineaccording to an embodiment also can include non-transitory memory mediumin communication with the one or more processors. The memory medium caninclude computer-readable instructions stored therein that when executedcause the one or more processors to perform a series of operations. Forexample, the operations can include positioning a plurality ofelectronic, two-dimensional, substantially rectangular depictions ofstructure of one or more real, three-dimensional, substantiallycylindrical core samples of subsurface material in a substantiallyside-by-side arrangement on one or more of the one or more displays.Each of the one or more core samples can have a first end and a secondend. The second end of each of the one or more core samples, forexample, can be associated with an original location within a coreboredownhole relative to an original location within the corebore of thefirst end of the respective one of the one or more core samples.Further, each core sample can be encased in a substantially cylindricalcontainer thereby to define an encased core, and the plurality ofdepictions of structure of the one or more encased cores thereby candefine a plurality of pilot images. Each of the plurality of pilotimages can have a first end of the pilot image that can be associatedwith the first end of the respective core sample depicted in therespective pilot image. Additionally, each of the plurality of pilotimages can have a second end of the pilot image that can be associatedwith the second end of the respective core sample depicted in therespective pilot image. The respective first end of each of the pilotimages can be aligned along an imaginary line substantially near theupper end of the electronic user interface. Further, the operations caninclude determining each of one or more portions of each of theplurality of pilot images as one of a plurality of planned sample typesthereby to virtually mark each of the plurality of pilot images.

In some instances, the one or more core samples can be a plurality ofcore samples. Further, the plurality of core samples can have asequential order associated with original locations by downhole positionof the plurality of core samples within the corebore. For example, thefirst end of each of the plurality of core samples—other than the firstcore sample in the sequential order—can be associated with an originallocation within the corebore downhole relative to an original locationwithin the corebore of the second end of the respective prior coresample in the sequential order. Further, the plurality of pilot imagescan be arranged in an order on the electronic user interface thereby todefine a display order. A position within the display order can beassociated with the position within the sequential order of theplurality of core samples of the respective core sample depicted in therespective pilot image. In addition, the display order can be one of thefollowing: from the left side to the right side of the electronic userinterface, from the right side to the left side of the electronicinterface, from the upper end to the lower end of the electronic userinterface, and from the lower end to the upper end of the electronicuser interface. The operations further can include superimposing, on theelectronic user interface, a geometric shape on each of the one or moreportions of each of the plurality of pilot images responsive to thevirtual mark of the plurality of pilot images, for example. Each of theplurality of planned sample types can have a predetermined geometricshape associated therewith. Further, the respective geometric shapeassociated with each of the plurality of planned sample types can bedepicted as a different color. For example, the plurality of plannedsample types can include a full diameter sample, a special core analysis(SCAL) sample, a conventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and amechanical property sample. In some instances, determining each of theone or more portions of each of the plurality of pilot images as one ofthe plurality of planned sample types can include simulating arespective position of a planned testing sample on the respective coresample depicted in the respective pilot image. The operations furthercan include displaying, by use of the electronic user interface,measurements of depth of the original locations of the plurality of coresamples within the corebore and measurements of depth of the originallocations of the portions of each of the plurality of core samplesassociated with each of the one or more virtually marked portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images.

Further, in some circumstances, each of the one or more substantiallycylindrical containers can be a protective barrier made of one or moreof a plurality of materials that are at least partially transparent toelectromagnetic energy, and the plurality of materials can includealuminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cardboard, polyethylene (PE),polypropylene (PP), carbon fiber, fiberglass, polycarbonates, andpoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). A machine further can include one ormore computerized tomography (CT) scanners in communication with the oneor more processors. The one or more CT scanners also can be configuredto scan the one or more encased cores. In addition, the operationsfurther can include transforming physical properties of the one or moreencased cores into the plurality of pilot images responsive to one ormore penetrative scans of each of the one or more protective barriers byuse of the one or more CT scanners.

Embodiments of the disclosure further can include non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having one or more computer programs storedtherein operable by one or more processors to enhance core analysisplanning for core samples of subsurface material. For example, innon-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more computerprograms stored therein operable by one or more processors according toan embodiment, the one or more computer programs can include a set ofinstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform a series of operations. Theoperations can include, for example, positioning a plurality ofelectronic, two-dimensional, substantially rectangular depictions ofstructure of one or more real, three-dimensional, substantiallycylindrical core samples of subsurface material in a substantiallyside-by-side arrangement on a display. Each of the one or more coresamples can have a first end and a second end. For example, the secondend of each of the one or more core samples can be associated with anoriginal location within a corebore downhole relative to an originallocation within the corebore of the first end of the respective one ofthe one or more core samples. Further, each core sample can be encasedin a substantially cylindrical container thereby to define an encasedcore, and the plurality of depictions of structure of the one or moreencased cores thereby can define a plurality of pilot images. Each ofthe plurality of pilot images can have a first end of the pilot image,which can be associated with the first end of the respective core sampledepicted in the respective pilot image. Each of the plurality of pilotimages also can have a second end of the pilot image, which can beassociated with the second end of the respective core sample depicted inthe respective pilot image. Further, the respective first end of each ofthe pilot images can be aligned along an imaginary line substantiallynear an upper end of an electronic user interface. The operations alsocan include determining each of one or more portions of each of theplurality of pilot images as one of a plurality of planned sample typesthereby to virtually mark each of the plurality of pilot images.

In some instances, the one or more core samples can be a plurality ofcore samples. Further, the plurality of core samples can have asequential order associated with original locations by downhole positionof the plurality of core samples within the corebore. For example, thefirst end of each of the plurality of core samples—other than the firstcore sample in the sequential order—can be associated with an originallocation within the corebore downhole relative to an original locationwithin the corebore of the second end of the respective prior coresample in the sequential order. Further, the plurality of pilot imagescan be arranged in an order on the electronic user interface thereby todefine a display order, and a position within the display order can beassociated with the position within the sequential order of theplurality of core samples of the respective core sample depicted in therespective pilot image. In addition, the display order can be one of thefollowing: from a left side to a right side of the electronic userinterface, from the right side to the left side of the electronicinterface, from the upper end to a lower end of the electronic userinterface, and from the lower end to the upper end of the electronicuser interface. In some circumstances, the operations further caninclude superimposing a geometric shape on each of the one or moreportions of each of the plurality of pilot images responsive to thevirtual mark of the plurality of pilot images. For example, each of theplurality of planned sample types can have a predetermined geometricshape associated therewith, and the respective geometric shapeassociated with each of the plurality of planned sample types can bedepicted as a different color. Further, the plurality of planned sampletypes can include a full diameter sample, a special core analysis (SCAL)sample, a conventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and a mechanicalproperty sample. In some instances, determining each of the one or moreportions of each of the plurality of pilot images as one of theplurality of planned sample types can include simulating a respectiveposition of a planned testing sample on the respective core sampledepicted in the respective pilot image. The operations still further caninclude displaying measurements of depth of the original locations ofthe plurality of core samples within the corebore and measurements ofdepth of the original locations of the portions of each of the pluralityof core samples associated with each of the one or more virtually markedportions of each of the plurality of pilot images.

In some circumstances, each of the one or more substantially cylindricalcontainers can be a protective barrier made of one or more of aplurality of materials that are at least partially transparent toelectromagnetic energy, and the plurality of materials can includealuminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cardboard, polyethylene (PE),polypropylene (PP), carbon fiber, fiberglass, polycarbonates, andpoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Additionally, the operations furthercan include transforming physical properties of the one or more encasedcores into the plurality of pilot images responsive to one or morepenetrative scans of each of the one or more protective barriers by useof one or more computerized tomography (CT) scanners.

Embodiments of the disclosure thus can provide advanced core analysisplanning, for example, including integration of CT scanning images andimage processing within core analysis planning to increase the speed andaccuracy of core analysis planning. The integration of CT scanningimages into the core analysis planning process can obtain enhancedefficiency, cost and time saving, and enhanced accuracy in the coreanalysis planning process. Advantageously, enhanced speed and accuracyin turn can affect positively the end result: core analysis data.Further, embodiments of the disclosure can be used as a non-destructiveand non-invasive tool in core analysis planning through which faster andmore accurate decisions can be made. After completion of processesaccording to embodiments of the disclosure, for example, rock cores canbe kept entirely as received without any disturbance to the preservationmethods within the original core barrels. Application of embodiments ofthe disclosure in the core analysis planning practice thus can providepositive impacts and significant contributions. Still further,embodiments of the disclosure can provide significant monetary savingsto an entity that performs core analysis planning through efficiency,enhanced speed, and accuracy of core analysis data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become better understood with regard to the followingdescriptions, claims, and accompanying drawings. It is to be noted,however, that the drawings illustrate only several embodiments of thedisclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of thedisclosure's scope as it can admit to other equally effectiveembodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a method according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a method according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a method according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a core sample and container accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a core sample and container accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a corebore and core samples accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a corebore and core samples accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of core samples and containers accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a CT scanner according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of core sample plugs according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of core sample plugs according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a method according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of an electronic user interface accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

So that the manner in which the features and advantages of theembodiments of methods, machines, systems, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having computer program stored therein of thepresent disclosure, as well as others, which will become apparent, maybe understood in more detail, a more particular description of theembodiments of methods, machines, systems, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having computer program stored therein of thepresent disclosure briefly summarized supra may be had by reference tothe embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings,which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however,that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the embodimentsof methods, machines, systems, and non-transitory computer-readablemedium having computer program stored therein of the present disclosureand are therefore not to be considered limiting of the embodiments ofmethods, machines, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable mediumhaving computer program stored therein of the present disclosure's scopeas it may include other effective embodiments as well.

As part of a core analysis procedure, throughout the coring stages (thatis, before, during, and after the coring), core analysis planningmeetings can be carried out to establish the test methods that arelikely to achieve the best possible rock data. At this stage, since thecore samples are usually still within the core barrels, thesediscussions can occur without any visual support for this planning. Evenif all the discussions are completed and test methods are agreed, themarking of sample locations typically is postponed until the coresamples are taken out of their protective core barrels, cleaned, andlaid on a viewing table, which can require a period of waiting time thatcan be months.

Embodiments of the disclosure advantageously can include methods,machines, and non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or morecomputer programs stored therein to enhance core analysis planning forcore samples of subsurface material. For example, a method to enhancecore analysis planning for core samples of subsurface material accordingto an embodiment can include positioning a plurality of electronic,two-dimensional, substantially rectangular depictions 215 of structureof one or more real, three-dimensional, substantially cylindrical coresamples 201 of subsurface material in a substantially side-by-sidearrangement on a display, such as by use of an electronic user interface104, as illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 25, for example. Anelectronic user interface 104 can be displayed using a stand-alonecomputer program, for example, or using word processing, spreadsheet, orpresentation software, for instance. Each of the one or more coresamples 201 can have a first end 202 and a second end 203, asillustrated in FIG. 9, for example. Further, the second end 203 of eachof the one or more core samples 201 can be associated with an originallocation within a corebore 200 downhole relative to an original locationwithin the corebore 200 of the first end 202 of the respective one ofthe one or more core samples 201. For example, the second end 203 ofeach of the one or more core samples 201 can be associated with a deeperoriginal location within the corebore 200 than the first end 202. Thatis, the core sample 201 can have been oriented in a vertical corebore200 such that the first end 202 was nearer to the surface than thesecond end 203. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the second end231 b of core sample 231 is depicted at a deeper original locationwithin the corebore 200 than the first end 231 a of core sample 231.Additionally, the second end 232 b of core sample 232 is depicted at adeeper original location within the corebore 200 than the first end 232a of core sample 232. Although the corebore 200 is depicted as avertical corebore in FIG. 11, for example, the corebore 200 also can bea directional corebore, such as a horizontal core. For instance, thecorebore 200 can be an inverted horizontal corebore; in such an invertedhorizontal corebore, the second end 203 of a core sample 201 can benearer to the surface than the first end 203 in terms of true verticaldepth but nevertheless downhole relative to the first end 203 within thecorebore.

Additionally, each core sample 201 can be encased in a substantiallycylindrical container 210 thereby to define an encased core. That is, anencased core can be a core sample 201 encased in a substantiallycylindrical container 210, as illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, forexample. Further, in some instances, each of the one or moresubstantially cylindrical containers 210 can be a protective barriermade of one or more of a plurality of materials that are at leastpartially transparent to electromagnetic energy. For example, theplurality of materials can include aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC),cardboard, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), carbon fiber,fiberglass, polycarbonates, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Theone or more substantially cylindrical containers 210 also can be anyother non-metallic container, for example. In some instances, the one ormore substantially cylindrical containers 210 can be non-visuallyopaque, such as containers 210 that are made of aluminum, PVC,cardboard, PE, PP, carbon fiber, or fiberglass. In other instances, theone or more substantially cylindrical containers 210 can be visuallyopaque, such as containers 210 that are made of PE, PP, polycarbonates,or PMMA. Regardless of whether the containers 210 are visually opaque,the one or more substantially cylindrical containers 210 can betransparent to the type of energy transmitted by, for instance,computerized tomography (CT) scanners 102. For example, X-rays can be agood measure of the frequency permissiveness of the containers 210.Additionally, the plurality of depictions 215 of structure of the one ormore encased cores thereby can define a plurality of pilot images 215.That is, a pilot image 215 can depict both a core sample 201 and itsrespective container 210. Each of the plurality of pilot images 215 canhave a first end 215 a of the pilot image 215 that is associated withthe first end 202 of the respective core sample 201 depicted in therespective pilot image 215, as illustrated in FIG. 5, for example. Eachof the plurality of pilot images 215 also can have a second end 215 b ofthe pilot image 215 that is associated with the second end 203 of therespective core sample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215.For example, pilot image 251, as depicted in FIG. 12, can depict coresample 231, as illustrated in FIG. 11. Pilot image 251 can have a firstend 251 a and a second end 251 b, as illustrated in FIG. 12, forinstance. Further, first end 251 a of pilot image 251 can be associatedwith first end 231 a of core sample 231, and second end 251 b of pilotimage 251 can be associated with second end 231 b of core sample 231. Aspositioned, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the respectivefirst end 215 a of each of the pilot images 215 can be aligned along animaginary line 149 substantially near an upper end 141 of an electronicuser interface 104, as illustrated in FIG. 12, for example. A methodaccording to an embodiment also can include determining each of one ormore portions of each of the plurality of pilot images 215 as one of aplurality of planned sample types thereby to virtually mark each of theplurality of pilot images 215. That is, a method can include virtuallymarking each of the plurality of pilot images 215 to indicate a plan totake a plug or other sample from the core sample 201 depicted in therespective pilot image 215.

In some instances, the one or more core samples 201 can be a pluralityof core samples 201, and the plurality of core samples 201 can have asequential order associated with original locations by downhole positionof the plurality of core samples 201 within the corebore 200, asillustrated in FIG. 10, for example. As depicted, for example, coresamples 201 illustrated in the original locations within the corebore200 can include, in order of increasing depth: core sample 231, coresample 232, core sample 233, core sample 234, core sample 235, and coresample 236. That is, the sequential order of the core samples 201illustrated in FIG. 10 is: core sample 231, core sample 232, core sample233, core sample 234, core sample 235, and core sample 236. In addition,the first end 202 of each of the plurality of core samples 201—otherthan the first core sample in the sequential order—can be associatedwith an original location within the corebore 200 downhole relative toan original location within the corebore of the second end 203 of therespective prior core sample in the sequential order. For example, inthe case of a vertical corebore 200, deeper core samples 201 can belater in the sequential order. (The sequential order as described doesnot have a core sample prior to the first core sample in the sequentialorder.) For example, when core sample 232 has a deeper original locationwithin the corebore 200 than core sample 231, as illustrated in FIG. 10and FIG. 11, for example, core sample 231 precedes core sample 232 inthe sequential order, and the first end 232 a of core sample 232 has adeeper original location within the corebore 200 than the second end 231b of core sample 231, as illustrated in FIG. 11, for instance.

Additionally, the plurality of pilot images 215 can be arranged in anorder on the electronic user interface 104 thereby to define a displayorder. Further, the display order can be one of the following: from aleft side 143 to a right side 144 of the electronic user interface 104,from the right side 144 to the left side 143 of the electronic interface104, from the upper end 141 to a lower end 142 of the electronic userinterface 104, and from the lower end 142 to the upper end 141 of theelectronic user interface 104. For example, an example display orderfrom a left side 143 to a right side 144 of the electronic userinterface 104 is illustrated, for instance, in FIG. 12. That is, theexample display order depicted in FIG. 12, for example, is: pilot image251, pilot image 252, pilot image 253, pilot image 254, pilot image 255,and pilot image 256. In addition, a position within the display ordercan be associated with the position within the sequential order of theplurality of core samples 201 of the respective core sample 201 depictedin the respective pilot image 215, for example. For example, as depictedin FIG. 12, pilot image 251 can depict core sample 231, pilot image 252can depict core sample 232, pilot image 253 can depict core sample 233,pilot image 254 can depict core sample 234, pilot image 255 can depictcore sample 235, and pilot image 256 can depict core sample 236.Consequently, the position of a pilot image 215 in the display order canmirror the position of the respective depicted core sample 201 in thesequential order.

In some circumstances, a method further can include superimposing ageometric shape on each of the one or more portions of each of theplurality of pilot images 215 responsive to the virtual mark of theplurality of pilot images 215, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 25, forexample. More specifically, each of the plurality of planned sampletypes can have a predetermined geometric shape associated with therespective planned sample type. As depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 25, forexample, geometric shapes can include rectangles and circles. Further,the respective geometric shape associated with each of the plurality ofplanned sample types can be depicted as a different color, asillustrated in FIG. 25, for example. In other instances, each plannedsample type can be depicted in the same color, but each planned sampletype can be associated with a different respective geometric shape.Further, in some circumstances, each planned sample type can beassociated with the same geometric shape while color can vary by plannedsample type. In addition, the plurality of planned sample types caninclude a full diameter sample, a special core analysis (SCAL) sample, aconventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and a mechanical propertysample. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 25, rectangle 171can indicate that a portion of a pilot image 215 is a planned fulldiameter sample. Likewise, circle 172 can indicate that a portion of apilot image 215 is a planned SCAL sample, and circle 173 can indicatethat a portion of a pilot image 215 is a planned CCA sample. Further,circle 174 can indicate that a portion of a pilot image 215 is a plannedmechanical property sample. In some instances, rectangle 171 can begreen, circle 172 can be blue, circle 173 can be red, and circle 174 canbe yellow, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 25. Displaying andsuperimposing such geometric shapes advantageously can enable readyanalysis of the planned sample types within a core sample 201 depictedin a pilot image 215. An individual pilot image 215 can be virtuallymarked with all, some, or none of the plurality of planned sample types.For example, in some instances, some tests cannot be performed due tothe material presented. Further, in some circumstances, determining eachof the one or more portions of each of the plurality of pilot images 215as one of the plurality of planned sample types can include simulating arespective position of a planned testing sample on the respective coresample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215, as illustrated inFIG. 6 and FIG. 25, for example. For instance, a planned testing samplecan include a planned full diameter sample, a planned SCAL plug, aplanned CCA plug, and a planned mechanical property plug. As depicted inFIG. 6 and FIG. 25, for example, some of the pilot images 215 can beassociated with an upper reservoir 261, and some of the pilot images 215can be associated with a lower reservoir 262. Further, the length of thecore samples 201 depicted in the pilot images 215 can be represented,for example, on a scale from zero to three feet, measured from top 263to bottom 264 (that is, beginning at the first end 215 a of a pilotimage 215). For each pilot image 215, an indication of core and tubenumbers 265 and depth 266 associated with the first end 215 a of therespective pilot image 215 can be displayed.

Additionally, in some instances, a method further can include displaying(1) measurements of depth of the original locations of the plurality ofcore samples 201 within the corebore 200 and (2) measurements of depthof the original locations of the portions of each of the plurality ofcore samples 201 associated with each of the one or more virtuallymarked portions of each of the plurality of pilot images 215, asillustrated in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, for example, by use of electronicuser interface 104. As depicted, for example, each row of a table cancorrespond to a core sample 201. For each core sample 201, the table canprovide the top depth of the core sample 201 (that is, corresponding tothe first end 202 of the respective core sample 201) and the bottomdepth of the core sample 201 (that is, corresponding to the second end203 of the respective core sample 201). The table further can identify acore number and a tube number. Still further, the table can identify anyinterval of depths over which the respective core sample 201 is whole(that is, top depth and bottom depth of whole core interval, asillustrated in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B). The table still further canidentify the location (by depth) of different planned sample types, suchas, for example, planned SCAL samples and planned CCA samples. Inaddition, the table can identify status (for example, default ormodified) and include any comments (for example, presence and locationof fractures or rubble within the respective core sample 201). Anembodiment of the disclosure thus advantageously can report all coresamples 201 based on the pilot images 215 as part of core analysisplanning.

Further, in some circumstances, a method further can includetransforming physical properties of the one or more encased cores intothe plurality of pilot images 215 responsive to one or more penetrativescans of each of the one or more protective barriers by use of one ormore computerized tomography (CT) scanners 102. An example CT scanner102 is illustrated in FIG. 14, for example. In an example configuration,a CT scanner 102 can scan a core sample 201 encased in a container 210as the respective container 210 is conveyed through the CT scanner 102,as illustrated in FIG. 14, for example, and as will be understood bythose skilled in the art. A container 210 can be three to five feet inlength and can be capped and sealed at both ends to preserve the stateof the core sample 201 within the container 210. Containers 210 thus canenable easy handling of core samples 201 and can protect the coresamples 201 from disintegration and unnatural fractures.

Embodiments of the disclosure thus can provide a number of advantages.For example, a maximum number of testing samples that possibly can beobtained from a well can be accurately determined. This information canhelp engineers to optimize the number of tests, as well as the number ofsamples for each test type, before the actual core samples 201 are takenout of their protective core barrels 210. Additionally, after the coresamples 201 are taken out of their protective core barrels 210, cleaned,and laid on the table, as will be understood by those skilled in theart, the predetermination of planned testing sample locations can makethe physical marking of testing sample locations for sample extractionmuch easier.

For example, a method of core analysis according to one or moreembodiments of the disclosure can be illustrated in FIG. 3, for example.As depicted, for example, whole core samples 201 can be cored (that is,extracted or removed from a corebore 200) at step 310, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art. The core samples 201 can be cutand placed in tubes 210 at step 311 then transported to a corelaboratory at step 312, for example, in groups of encased core sampleson pallets 331. These initial steps, from extracting the whole coresamples 201 from the corebore 200 at step 310 to transporting the coresamples 201 to a core laboratory at step 312 can take one week toseveral months, for example. Upon arrival at a core laboratory, forexample, embodiments of the disclosure advantageously can eliminate anywait for viewing, marking, and planning 313. For instance, embodimentscan include CT scanning (by use of a CT scanner 102, for example) atstep 314 and performing virtual marking on the CT images (for example,as depicted on an electronic user interface 104) at step 315, which cantake less than a week. Cores 201 then can be put in a queue at step 316,and gamma ray detection can be performed at step 317, which can takeless than a week. In some instances, 360 degree images of the cores 201can be taken, as well. Sampling and testing then can begin, includingcoring the core samples 201 (that is, taking one or more test samplesfrom the core samples 201) at step 318 to produce core plugs 220, aswill be understood by those skilled in the art and as illustrated, forexample, in FIG. 15. Sampling and testing also can include performingconventional core analysis at step 319, special core analysis at step320, rock mechanics at step 321, and other tests at step 322, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art. The core plugs 220 then can belabeled and stored, for example, in containers 221, as illustrated inFIG. 16, for example. The illustrated core analysis process thus caninclude integration of CT scanning images 215 (which also can be knownas pilot images 215) into the planning process.

CT scanning of whole cores 201 can include a carefully designedstep-by-step workflow. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a workflowaccording to an embodiment can include sequential steps involved inobtaining CT images 215 for an advanced core analysis planning. Forexample, steps can include, after core samples 201 arrive at step 301,individually CT scanning core samples 201 at step 302. Steps then caninclude obtaining and processing the CT scanning images 215 at step 303,which also can be known as pilot images 215, sometimes called pilot scanimages, as illustrated, for instance, in FIG. 5. The pilot images 215,which can be digital radiographs (for example, similar to X-ray plates)of each core sample 201, can provide valuable information about theintegrity of a core sample 201 without compromising its preserved state.That is, a core sample 201 can remain intact without changing thenatural orientation of the rock or any pieces in the tube 210 throughcleaning or other processes. Further, techniques according toembodiments of the disclosure can protect a core sample 201 fromartificial damage or fractures, such as any damage that results fromtransportation or from being dropped while carried. Advantageously,embodiments of the disclosure thus can avoid destroying the core samples201, which are preserved in the state in which they came out of thecorebore 200, within their protective barrels 210 (that is, in reservoircondition) until they are opened, cleaned, cored, or sliced, forexample. Pilot images 215 can provide an excellent opportunity tovisualize—non-destructively—the cores 201 inside the core barrels 210(for example, made of opaque material, such as aluminum, fiberglass, orPVC tubes) and can enable observation without compromising their storagecondition and integrity. These images 215 can be organized such thatconsecutive tubes 210 are side by side and relevant technical data, forexample, core and tube numbers (from smaller depth towards deeper depthvalue), are presented, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 25, forexample. Furthermore, their top and bottom positions can be aligned,that is, such that the top position is at the top and the bottomposition is at the bottom, which can obviate the need for any furtheralignment. As depicted in FIG. 5, for instance, the changes of the graytones within the pilot images 215 can indicate changes in density and,hence, the existence of a level of heterogeneity or changes in rocktype. The thick, cross-sectional, straight, and, in some cases,irregular lines disturbing the continuity of a pilot image 215 canindicate the existence of fractures and breakages. The dark gray areascan indicate lower density, while the slightly light gray and brighterareas can indicate higher densities, which can help to identify rockfacies.

After finalizing the orientation of the pilot images 215 as describedsupra, a core analysis process according to an embodiment of thedisclosure can include virtual marking and sample selection on CT images215 at step 304. For example, each test type can be designated with acertain color code, for example, full diameter (FD) samples in a greencolor, special core analysis (SCAL) samples (for example, plugs 220) ina blue color, conventional core analysis (CCA) samples (for example,plugs 220) in a red color, and rock mechanics (RM) samples (for example,plugs 220) in a yellow color. By using these color codes, all therequired samples (including, for example, plugs 220) at the targeteddepth can be marked, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 25,for example. During the virtual marking, excessively fractured andrubble areas can be avoided, which eventually can reveal the maximumpossible samples (including, for example, plugs 220) that can beobtained from these cores 201. A detailed reporting of all the plugsamples 220 also can be prepared based on the CT images 215, forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, which can strengthenfurther a core analysis process according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. A CT scanning technique according to embodiments of thedisclosure advantageously can contribute significantly to core analysisplanning, particularly during the decision-making stage by speeding upthe process and increasing the accuracy of the accumulated number ofsamples (including, for example, plugs 220) and their locations.

Further, an example method is illustrated in FIG. 17, for instance. Themethod as depicted can start at step 351. Then, at step 352, encasedcores can be CT scanned, and physical characteristics of the encasedcores thus can be transformed into pilot images 215 at step 353. At step354, pilot images 215 can be displayed, and one or more portions of thepilot images 215 can be identified as candidates for one of the plannedsample types at step 355. The example method then can includedetermining—for a first portion of the identified one or more portionsof the pilot images 215—whether the identified portion of the pilotimages 215 indicates an area in the core sample 201 depicted in therespective pilot image 215 that is a candidate for a full diametersample at step 361. If so, the method can include virtually marking theidentified portion as a planned full diameter sample at step 362. If theidentified portion is not such at a candidate (that is, step 361 isanswered in the negative), the method can include determining whetherthe identified portion of a pilot image 215 indicates an area in thecore sample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215 that is acandidate for a SCAL sample at step 363. If so, the method can includevirtually marking the identified portion as a planned SCAL sample atstep 364. If the identified portion is not such at a candidate (that is,step 363 is answered in the negative), the method can includedetermining whether the identified portion of a pilot image 215indicates an area in the core sample 201 depicted in the respectivepilot image 215 that is a candidate for a CCA sample at step 365. If so,the method can include virtually marking the identified portion as aplanned CCA sample at step 366. If the identified portion is not such ata candidate (that is, step 365 is answered in the negative), the methodcan include determining whether the identified portion of a pilot image215 indicates an area in the core sample 201 depicted in the respectivepilot image 215 that is a candidate for a mechanical property sample atstep 367. If so, the method can include virtually marking the identifiedportion as a planned mechanical property sample at step 368. If theidentified portion is not such at a candidate (that is, step 367 isanswered in the negative), the method can include determining whetheradditional identified portions of the pilot images 215 exist at step371. If so, the method can include determining whether the nextidentified portion of the pilot images 215 indicates an area in the coresample depicted in the respective pilot image 215 that is a candidatefor a SCAL sample at step 363. The method also can include determiningwhether additional identified portions of the pilot images 215 exist atstep 371 after marking a portion at any of steps 362, 364, 366, and 368.If no additional identified portions of the pilot images 215 exist atstep 371, the method can stop at step 372. Consequently, the method caninclude determining whether each identified portion of the one or moreidentified portions of the pilot images 215 indicates an area in thecore sample depicted in the respective pilot image 215 that is acandidate for a full diameter sample (at step 361), a SCAL sample (atstep 363), a CCA sample (at step 365), or a mechanical property sample(at step 367). That is, each identified portion of the pilot images 215can be analyzed separately. The method thus permits any or all virtualmarkings to be used for a set of pilot images 215. That is, operation ofthe depicted method can cause the set of pilot images 215 to include oneor more portions that are virtually marked as each of a full diametersample, a SCAL sample, a CCA sample, and a mechanical property sample.Alternatively, operation of the method can cause the set of pilot images215 to include only portions that are virtually marked with a single oneof the sample types. Moreover, operation of the method can result in aset of pilot images 215 without any virtually marked sample types.Additionally, a single pilot image 215 can be virtually marked with all,none, or a combination of the sample types.

In some instances, displaying the plurality of pilot images 215 in asubstantially side-by-side arrangement and virtually marking each of theplurality of pilot images 215 can include a series of steps or stages,as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, FIG.22, FIG. 23, FIG. 24, FIG. 26, and FIG. 27. For example, a first stepcan include transferring one or more dicom images from a CT scanner 102control unit to a workstation that has image processing capabilities, aswill be understood by those skilled in the art. Example dicom imagefiles as depicted on an electronic user interface 104 are illustrated inFIG. 18, for example. Then, pilot image 215 files can be obtained usingimage processing software that is capable of reading dicom files, aswill be understood by those skilled in the art. During this stage (thatis, obtaining pilot image 215 files), a unique name that describes animage identification can be assigned to individual pilot images 215.Example tiff image files (after performing processing and namingconventions), as depicted on an electronic user interface 104, areillustrated in FIG. 19, for example. Further, additional example tiffimage files (after performing processing and naming conventions), asdepicted on an electronic user interface 104, are illustrated in FIG.20, for example. Additional processing of the final shapes of the pilotimages 215 then can be performed. For example, example processed tiffimage files (prior to transfer into an advanced core analysis planningformat), as depicted on an electronic user interface 104, areillustrated in FIG. 21, for example. Individual images then can betransferred and organized one by one to prepare a format employed in theadvanced core analysis planning process that includes the integration ofactual depth values for each core sample (that is, drillers depth), aswill be understood by those skilled in the art. An advanced coreanalysis planning format with comprehensive supporting tools, asdepicted on an electronic user interface 104, is illustrated in FIG. 22,for example. In addition, advanced core analysis planning marking (thatis, virtual marking) can be performed on the advanced core analysisplanning format. For example, definitions of terminology and notationsin an advanced core analysis planning format, as depicted on anelectronic user interface 104, are illustrated in FIG. 23 and FIG. 26,for example. Further, an example methodology of marking the locations ofsamples in an advanced core analysis planning format, as depicted on anelectronic user interface 104, is illustrated in FIG. 23 and FIG. 26,for example. Additionally, markings indicating the locations of samplesin an advanced core analysis planning format, as depicted on anelectronic user interface 104, are illustrated in FIG. 24 and FIG. 27,for example.

Advantageously, embodiments of the disclosure can process a large numberof core samples 201 encased in containers 210, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 13. Further, the CT scanning techniques ofembodiments of the disclosure can significantly contribute to coreanalysis planning, particularly during the decision-making stage byspeeding up the analysis process and increasing the accuracy of theaccumulated number of core samples 201 and their locations. Observingthe state of core samples 201 using CT scanning images 215 while thecore samples 201 are still in their protective core barrels 210 canenable an advanced core analysis planning.

In addition to methods, an embodiment of the disclosure also can includea machine to enhance core analysis planning for core samples ofsubsurface material. For example, a machine 100 according to anembodiment can include one or more processors 101 and one or moredisplays 103 in communication with the one or more processors 101, asillustrated in FIG. 2, for example. The one or more displays 103 can beconfigured to display an electronic user interface 104 on the one ormore displays 103, for example. Further, the electronic user interface104 can have an upper end 141, a lower end 142, a left side 143, and aright side 144, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5. A machine 100further can include non-transitory memory medium 105 in communicationwith the one or more processors 101. The memory medium 105 can includecomputer-readable instructions 106 stored in the memory medium 105 that,when executed, cause the one or more processors 101 to perform a seriesof operations. For example, the operations can include positioning aplurality of electronic, two-dimensional, substantially rectangulardepictions 215 of structure of one or more real, three-dimensional,substantially cylindrical core samples 201 of subsurface material in asubstantially side-by-side arrangement on one or more of the one or moredisplays 103. Each of the one or more core samples 201 can have a firstend 202 and a second end 203. Further, the second end 203 of each of theone or more core samples 201 can be associated with an original locationwithin a corebore 200 downhole relative to an original location withinthe corebore 200 of the first end 202 of the respective one of the oneor more core samples 201. Each core sample 201 also can be encased in asubstantially cylindrical container 210 thereby to define an encasedcore. The plurality of depictions 215 of structure of the one or moreencased cores thereby can define a plurality of pilot images 215, forexample. Further, each of the plurality of pilot images 215 can have afirst end 215 a of the pilot image 215 that is associated with the firstend 202 of the respective core sample 201 depicted in the respectivepilot image 215 and a second end 215 b of the pilot image 215 that isassociated with the second end 203 of the respective core sample 201depicted in the respective pilot image 215. The respective first end 215a of each of the pilot images 215 can be aligned along an imaginary line149 substantially near the upper end 141 of the electronic userinterface 104, for example. The operations also can include determiningeach of one or more portions of each of the plurality of pilot images215 as one of a plurality of planned sample types thereby to virtuallymark each of the plurality of pilot images 215.

In some instances, the one or more core samples 201 can be a pluralityof core samples 201, and the plurality of core samples 201 can have asequential order associated with original locations by downhole positionof the plurality of core samples 201 within the corebore 200. Further,the first end 202 of each of the plurality of core samples 201—otherthan the first core sample in the sequential order—can be associatedwith an original location within the corebore 200 downhole relative toan original location within the corebore 200 of the second end 203 ofthe respective prior core sample in the sequential order. Additionally,the plurality of pilot images 215 can be arranged in an order on theelectronic user interface 104 thereby to define a display order, and aposition within the display order can be associated with the positionwithin the sequential order of the plurality of core samples 201 of therespective core sample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215.The display order also can be one of the following: from the left side143 to the right side 144 of the electronic user interface 104, from theright side 144 to the left side 143 of the electronic interface 104,from the upper end 141 to the lower end 142 of the electronic userinterface 104, and from the lower end 142 to the upper end 141 of theelectronic user interface 104. The operations further can includesuperimposing, on the electronic user interface 104, a geometric shapeon each of the one or more portions of each of the plurality of pilotimages 215 responsive to the virtual mark of the plurality of pilotimages 215. Further, each of the plurality of planned sample types canhave a predetermined geometric shape associated therewith, and therespective geometric shape associated with each of the plurality ofplanned sample types can be depicted as a different color. For example,the plurality of planned sample types can include a full diametersample, a special core analysis (SCAL) sample, a conventional coreanalysis (CCA) sample, and a mechanical property sample. Still further,in some circumstances, determining each of the one or more portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images 215 as one of the plurality ofplanned sample types can include simulating a respective position of aplanned testing sample on the respective core sample 201 depicted in therespective pilot image 215. The operations further can includedisplaying, by use of the electronic user interface 104, measurements ofdepth of the original locations of the plurality of core samples 201within the corebore 200 and measurements of depth of the originallocations of the portions of each of the plurality of core samples 201associated with each of the one or more virtually marked portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images 215.

In addition, in some circumstances, each of the one or moresubstantially cylindrical containers 210 can be a protective barriermade of one or more of a plurality of materials that are at leastpartially transparent to electromagnetic energy, and the plurality ofmaterials can include aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cardboard,polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), carbon fiber, fiberglass,polycarbonates, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). A machine 100further can include one or more computerized tomography (CT) scanners102 in communication with the one or more processors 101, as illustratedin FIG. 2, for example. The one or more CT scanners 102 can beconfigured to scan the one or more encased cores, for example.Additionally, the operations further can include transforming physicalproperties of the one or more encased cores into the plurality of pilotimages 215 responsive to one or more penetrative scans of each of theone or more protective barriers by use of the one or more CT scanners102, for example.

In addition to machines and methods, an embodiment of the disclosure caninclude non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or morecomputer programs stored therein operable by one or more processors toenhance core analysis planning for core samples 201 of subsurfacematerial. For example, in non-transitory computer-readable medium havingone or more computer programs stored therein according to an embodiment,the one or more computer programs can include a set of instructionsthat, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or moreprocessors to perform a series of operations. The operations caninclude, for example, positioning a plurality of electronic,two-dimensional, substantially rectangular depictions 215 of structureof one or more real, three-dimensional, substantially cylindrical coresamples 201 of subsurface material in a substantially side-by-sidearrangement on a display, for instance. Each of the one or more coresamples 201 can have a first end 202 and a second end 203. Further, thesecond end 203 of each of the one or more core samples 201 can beassociated with an original location within a corebore 200 downholerelative to an original location within the corebore 200 of the firstend 202 of the respective one of the one or more core samples 201, forexample. Each core sample 201 also can be encased in a substantiallycylindrical container 210 thereby to define an encased core. Further,the plurality of depictions 215 of structure of the one or more encasedcores thereby can define a plurality of pilot images 215. Each of theplurality of pilot images 215 can have a first end 215 a of the pilotimage 215 that is associated with the first end 202 of the respectivecore sample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215 and a secondend 215 b of the pilot image 215 that is associated with the second end203 of the respective core sample 201 depicted in the respective pilotimage 215. The respective first end 215 a of each of the pilot images215 can be aligned along an imaginary line 149 substantially near anupper end 141 of an electronic user interface 104, for example. Theoperations further can include determining each of one or more portionsof each of the plurality of pilot images 215 as one of a plurality ofplanned sample types thereby to virtually mark each of the plurality ofpilot images 215.

In some circumstances, the one or more core samples 201 can be aplurality of core samples 201, and the plurality of core samples 201 canhave a sequential order associated with original locations by downholeposition of the plurality of core samples 201 within the corebore 200.Further, the first end 202 of each of the plurality of core samples 201(other than the first core sample in the sequential order) can beassociated with an original location within the corebore 200 downholerelative to an original location within the corebore 200 of the secondend 203 of the respective prior core sample in the sequential order. Theplurality of pilot images 215 can be arranged in an order on theelectronic user interface 104 thereby to define a display order, and aposition within the display order can be associated with the positionwithin the sequential order of the plurality of core samples 201 of therespective core sample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215.Further, the display order can be one of the following: from a left side143 to a right side 144 of the electronic user interface 104, from theright side 144 to the left side 143 of the electronic interface 104,from the upper end 141 to a lower end 142 of the electronic userinterface 104, and from the lower end 142 to the upper end 141 of theelectronic user interface 104. Additionally, the operations further caninclude superimposing a geometric shape on each of the one or moreportions of each of the plurality of pilot images 215 responsive to thevirtual mark of the plurality of pilot images 215. For example, each ofthe plurality of planned sample types can have a predetermined geometricshape associated therewith, and the respective geometric shapeassociated with each of the plurality of planned sample types can bedepicted as a different color. Further, the plurality of planned sampletypes can include a full diameter sample, a special core analysis (SCAL)sample, a conventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and a mechanicalproperty sample. In some instances, determining each of the one or moreportions of each of the plurality of pilot images 215 as one of theplurality of planned sample types can include simulating a respectiveposition of a planned testing sample on the respective core sample 201depicted in the respective pilot image 215. Further, the operations alsocan include displaying measurements of depth of the original locationsof the plurality of core samples 201 within the corebore 200 andmeasurements of depth of the original locations of the portions of eachof the plurality of core samples 201 associated with each of the one ormore virtually marked portions of each of the plurality of pilot images215.

In some instances, each of the one or more substantially cylindricalcontainers 210 can be a protective barrier made of one or more of aplurality of materials that are at least partially transparent toelectromagnetic energy, and the plurality of materials can includealuminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cardboard, polyethylene (PE),polypropylene (PP), carbon fiber, fiberglass, polycarbonates, andpoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Further, the operations can includetransforming physical properties of the one or more encased cores intothe plurality of pilot images 215 responsive to one or more penetrativescans of each of the one or more protective barriers by use of one ormore computerized tomography (CT) scanners 102.

Further, for example, a machine 100 according to another embodiment caninclude one or more processors 101 and one or more computerizedtomography (CT) scanners 102 in communication with the one or moreprocessors 101, as illustrated, for example, FIG. 2. An example CTscanner 102 is illustrated in FIG. 14, for example. The one or more CTscanners 102 can be configured to scan a plurality of real,three-dimensional, substantially cylindrical core samples 201 ofsubsurface material, as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. Each coresample 201 can be encased in a substantially cylindrical container 210,as illustrated in FIG. 8, for example, and the encased core samples 201thereby can define a plurality of encased cores. For example, in someinstances, the substantially cylindrical container 210 can be aprotective barrier made of one or more of the following opaquematerials: aluminum, fiberglass, and PVC pipe. Further, each of theplurality of core samples 201 can have a first end 202 and a second end203, as illustrated in FIG. 9, for example. Additionally, the pluralityof core samples 201 can have a sequential order associated with originallocations by depth of the plurality of core samples 201 within acorebore 200, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The second end 203of each of the plurality of core samples 201 can be associated with adeeper original location within the corebore 200 than the first end 202of the respective one of the plurality of core samples 201. In addition,the first end 202 of each of the plurality of core samples 201—otherthan the first core sample in the sequential order—can be associatedwith a deeper original location within the corebore 200 than the secondend 203 of the respective prior core sample in the sequential order.

A machine 100 according to another embodiment also can include one ormore displays 103 in communication with the one or more processors 101and configured to display an electronic user interface 104 thereon, asillustrated in FIG. 2, for example. The electronic user interface 104can have an upper end 141, a lower end 142, a left side 143, and a rightside 144, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5. A machine 100 furthercan include non-transitory memory medium 105 in communication with theone or more processors 101. The memory medium 105 can includecomputer-readable instructions 106 stored therein that when executedcause the one or more processors 101 to perform a series of operations.For example, the operations can include transforming physical propertiesof each of the plurality of encased cores into an electronic,two-dimensional, substantially rectangular depiction of structure of therespective encased core responsive to the one or more CT scanners 102thereby to define a pilot image 215, as illustrated in FIG. 5, forexample. That is, a pilot image 215 can depict both a core sample 201and its respective container 210. Each of the plurality of pilot images215 can have a first end 215 a of the pilot image 215 that can beassociated with the first end 202 of the respective core sample 201depicted in the respective pilot image 215. Each of the plurality ofpilot images 215 also can have a second end 215 b of the pilot image 215that can be associated with the second end 203 of the respective coresample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image.

The operations also can include displaying—by use of the electronic userinterface 104—the plurality of pilot images 215 in a substantiallyside-by-side arrangement in which (1) the respective first end 215 a ofeach of the pilot images 215 is aligned along an imaginary line 149substantially near the upper end 141 of the electronic user interface104 and (2) the plurality of pilot images 215 are arranged in an orderfrom the left side 143 to the right side 144 of the electronic userinterface 104 thereby to define a display order, as illustrated, forinstance, in FIG. 12. In addition, a position within the display ordercan be associated with the position within the sequential order of theplurality of core samples 201 of the respective core sample 201 depictedin the respective pilot image 215, for example. Furthermore, theoperations also can include identifying each of one or more portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images 215 as one of a plurality ofsample types thereby to virtually mark each of the plurality of pilotimages 215.

In some instances, the operations further can include displaying—by useof the electronic user interface 104—a geometric shape superimposed oneach of the one or more portions of each of the plurality of pilotimages 215 responsive to the virtual mark of the plurality of pilotimages 215, as illustrated in FIG. 6, for example. More specifically,each of the plurality of sample types can have a predetermined geometricshape associated therewith. As depicted in FIG. 6, for example,geometric shapes can include rectangles and circles. Further, therespective geometric shape associated with each of the plurality ofsample types can be depicted as a different color. In addition, theplurality of sample types can include a full diameter sample, a specialcore analysis (SCAL) sample, a conventional core analysis (CCA) sample,and a mechanical property sample. Further, in some circumstances,identifying each of the one or more portions of each of the plurality ofpilot images 201 as one of the plurality of sample types can includesimulating a respective position of a planned testing sample on therespective core sample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 201,as illustrated in FIG. 6, for example. For instance, a planned testingsample can include a full diameter sample, a SCAL plug, a CCA plug, anda mechanical property plug.

Additionally, the operations further can include displaying, by use ofthe electronic user interface 104, measurements of depth of the originallocations of the plurality of core samples 201 within the corebore 200and measurements of depth of the original locations of the portions ofeach of the plurality of core samples 201 associated with each of theone or more virtually marked portions of each of the plurality of pilotimages 215, as illustrated in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, for example.

A machine 100 further can include, in some instances, one or more gammaray detecting devices in communication with the one or more processors101, for example. The one or more gamma ray detecting devices can beconfigured to detect gamma rays emitted by subsurface material of theplurality of encased cores. In addition, the operations further caninclude measuring gamma ray emissions for each of the plurality ofencased cores responsive to the one or more gamma ray detecting devices.The operations still further can include associating the measured gammaray emissions for each of the plurality of encased cores with therespective pilot image 215 that depicts the respective core sample 201of the respective encased core. In addition, in some circumstances, theone or more gamma ray detecting devices can be one or more or more of:gamma ray spectrometers, scintillation detectors, sodium iodidescintillation counters, and high-purity germanium detectors.

In addition to machines, another embodiment of the disclosure also caninclude a method to enhance core analysis planning for a plurality ofcore samples of subsurface material. A method according to anotherembodiment can relate to a plurality of real, three-dimensional,substantially cylindrical core samples 201 of subsurface material. Eachcore sample 201 can be encased in a substantially cylindrical container210 such that the plurality of real, three-dimensional, substantiallycylindrical core samples 201 of subsurface material as encased therebydefine a plurality of encased cores. A method according to anotherembodiment can include transforming physical properties of each of theplurality of encased cores into an electronic, two-dimensional,substantially rectangular depiction of structure of the respectiveencased core responsive to one or more computerized tomography (CT)scanners 102 thereby to define a pilot image 215. Further, each of theplurality of core samples 201 can have a first end 202 and a second end203. Additionally, the plurality of core samples 201 can have asequential order associated with original locations by depth of theplurality of core samples 201 within a corebore 200. Further, the secondend 203 of each of the plurality of core samples 201 can be associatedwith a deeper original location within the corebore 200 than the firstend 202 of the respective one of the plurality of core samples 201. Inaddition, the first end 202 of each of the plurality of core samples201—other than the first core sample in the sequential order—can beassociated with a deeper original location within the corebore 200 thanthe second end 203 of the respective prior core sample in the sequentialorder. Further, each of the plurality of pilot images 215 can have afirst end 215 a of the pilot image 215 that can be associated with thefirst end 202 of the respective core sample 201 depicted in therespective pilot image 215 and a second end 215 b of the pilot image 215that can be associated with the second end 203 of the respective coresample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215.

A method according to another embodiment also can include displaying theplurality of pilot images 215 in a substantially side-by-sidearrangement in which (1) the respective first end 215 a of each of thepilot images 215 is aligned along an imaginary line 149 substantiallynear an upper end 141 of an electronic user interface 104 and (2) theplurality of pilot images 215 are arranged in an order from a left side143 to a right side 144 of the electronic user interface 104 thereby todefine a display order. For example, a position within the display ordercan be associated with the position within the sequential order of theplurality of core samples 201 of the respective core sample 201 depictedin the respective pilot image 215. A method according to anotherembodiment further can include identifying each of one or more portionsof each of the plurality of pilot images 215 as one of a plurality ofsample types thereby to virtually mark each of the plurality of pilotimages 215.

In some circumstances, a method according to another embodiment furthercan include displaying a geometric shape superimposed on each of the oneor more portions of each of the plurality of pilot images 215 responsiveto the virtual mark of the plurality of pilot images 215. For example,each of the plurality of sample types can have a predetermined geometricshape associated therewith, and the respective geometric shapeassociated with each of the plurality of sample types can be depicted asa different color. In addition, the plurality of sample types caninclude a full diameter sample, a special core analysis (SCAL) sample, aconventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and a mechanical propertysample. Further, in some instances, identifying each of the one or moreportions of each of the plurality of pilot images 215 as one of theplurality of sample types can include simulating a respective positionof a planned testing sample on the respective core sample 201 depictedin the respective pilot image 215. Additionally, a method still furthercan include displaying measurements of depth of the original locationsof the plurality of core samples 201 within the corebore 200 andmeasurements of depth of the original locations of the portions of eachof the plurality of core samples 201 associated with each of the one ormore virtually marked portions of each of the plurality of pilot images215.

In addition, in some instances, a method according to another embodimentfurther can include measuring gamma ray emissions for each of theplurality of encased cores responsive to one or more gamma ray detectingdevices. A method also can include associating the measured gamma rayemissions for each of the plurality of encased cores with the respectivepilot image 215 that depicts the respective core sample 201 of therespective encased core. Further, the one or more gamma ray detectingdevices can be one or more or more of: gamma ray spectrometers,scintillation detectors, sodium iodide scintillation counters, andhigh-purity germanium detectors. Additionally, the substantiallycylindrical container 210 can be a protective barrier made of one ormore of the following opaque materials: aluminum, fiberglass, and PVCpipe, in some circumstances.

In addition to machines and methods, another embodiment of thedisclosure can include non-transitory computer-readable medium havingone or more computer programs stored therein operable by one or moreprocessors to enhance core analysis planning for a plurality of coresamples 201 of subsurface material. The one or more computer programscan include a set of instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to perform a series ofoperations. For example, the operations can relate to a plurality ofreal, three-dimensional, substantially cylindrical core samples 201 ofsubsurface material. Each core sample 201 can be encased in asubstantially cylindrical container 210, and the plurality of coresamples 201 so encased thereby can define a plurality of encased cores.More specifically, the operations can include transforming physicalproperties of each of the plurality of encased cores into an electronic,two-dimensional, substantially rectangular depiction of structure of therespective encased core responsive to one or more computerizedtomography (CT) scanners 102 thereby to define a pilot image 215. Eachof the plurality of core samples 201 can have a first end 202 and asecond end 203, and the plurality of core samples 201 can have asequential order associated with original locations by depth of theplurality of core samples 201 within a corebore 200. Further, the secondend 203 of each of the plurality of core samples 201 can be associatedwith a deeper original location within the corebore 200 than the firstend 202 of the respective one of the plurality of core samples 201. Inaddition, the first end 202 of each of the plurality of core samples 201(other than the first core sample in the sequential order) can beassociated with a deeper original location within the corebore 200 thanthe second end 203 of the respective prior core sample in the sequentialorder. Further, each of the plurality of pilot images 215 can have afirst end 215 a of the pilot image 215 that can be associated with thefirst end 202 of the respective core sample 201 depicted in therespective pilot image 215 and a second end 215 b of the pilot image 215that can be associated with the second end 203 of the respective coresample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215.

The operations also can include displaying the plurality of pilot images215 in a substantially side-by-side arrangement in which (1) therespective first end 215 a of each of the pilot images 215 is alignedalong an imaginary line 149 substantially near an upper end 141 of anelectronic user interface 104 and (2) the plurality of pilot images 215are arranged in an order from a left side 143 to a right side 144 of theelectronic user interface 104 thereby to define a display order. Aposition within the display order can be associated with the positionwithin the sequential order of the plurality of core samples 201 of therespective core sample 201 depicted in the respective pilot image 215.The operations further can include identifying each of one or moreportions of each of the plurality of pilot images 215 as one of aplurality of sample types thereby to virtually mark each of theplurality of pilot images 215.

In some instances, the operations still further can include displaying ageometric shape superimposed on each of the one or more portions of eachof the plurality of pilot images 215 responsive to the virtual mark ofthe plurality of pilot images 215. Further, each of the plurality ofsample types can have a predetermined geometric shape associatedtherewith, and the respective geometric shape associated with each ofthe plurality of sample types can be depicted as a different color.Additionally, in some instances, the plurality of sample types caninclude a full diameter sample, a special core analysis (SCAL) sample, aconventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and a mechanical propertysample. Further, identifying each of the one or more portions of each ofthe plurality of pilot images 215 as one of the plurality of sampletypes can include simulating a respective position of a planned testingsample on the respective core sample 201 depicted in the respectivepilot image 215. The operations also can include displaying measurementsof depth of the original locations of the plurality of core samples 201within the corebore 200 and measurements of depth of the originallocations of the portions of each of the plurality of core samples 201associated with each of the one or more virtually marked portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images 215.

Additionally, in some circumstances, the operations further can includemeasuring gamma ray emissions for each of the plurality of encased coresresponsive to one or more gamma ray detecting devices. The operationsalso can include associating the measured gamma ray emissions for eachof the plurality of encased cores with the respective pilot image 215that depicts the respective core sample 201 of the respective encasedcore. Further, the one or more gamma ray detecting devices can be one ormore or more of: gamma ray spectrometers, scintillation detectors,sodium iodide scintillation counters, and high-purity germaniumdetectors. In addition, the substantially cylindrical container 210 canbe a protective barrier made of one or more of the following opaquematerials: aluminum, fiberglass, and PVC pipe, in some instances.

Further, methods, machines, and non-transitory computer-readable mediumhaving one or more computer programs stored therein according to yetanother embodiment of the disclosure similarly can include virtuallymarking images of non-encased core samples 201, as well. For example, amethod can include positioning a plurality of electronic,two-dimensional, substantially rectangular depictions of structure ofone or more real, three-dimensional, substantially cylindrical coresamples 201 of subsurface material in a substantially side-by-sidearrangement on a display. Each of the one or more core samples 201 canhave a first end 202 and a second end 203, and the second end 203 ofeach of the one or more core samples 201 can be associated with anoriginal location within a corebore 200 downhole relative to an originallocation within the corebore 200 of the first end 202 of the respectiveone of the one or more core samples 201. The plurality of depictions ofstructure of the one or more core samples 201 thereby can define aplurality of non-encased pilot images. Each of the plurality ofnon-encased pilot images can have a first end of the non-encased pilotimage associated with the first end 202 of the respective core sample201 depicted in the respective non-encased pilot image and a second endof the non-encased pilot image associated with the second end 203 of therespective core sample 201 depicted in the respective non-encased pilotimage. Further, the respective first end of each of the non-encasedpilot images can be aligned along an imaginary line substantially nearan upper end of an electronic user interface. A method also can includedetermining each of one or more portions of each of the plurality ofnon-encased pilot images as one of a plurality of planned sample typesthereby to virtually mark each of the plurality of non-encased pilotimages. Such a method can include other steps and features similar tothose described supra with respect to encased cores and pilot images 215and can be associated with related machines and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having one or more computer programs storedtherein. Further, performing such core analysis planning for non-encasedcores 201 advantageously can reduce processing time compared to theprior art.

In the various embodiments of the disclosure, a person having ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that various types of memory arereadable by a computer, such as the memory described in the disclosurein reference to the various computers and servers, for example,computer, computer server, web server, or other computers withembodiments of the present disclosure. Examples of computer-readablemedia can include but are not limited to: nonvolatile, hard-coded typemedia, such as read only memories (ROMs), CD-ROMs, and DVD-ROMs, orerasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs);recordable type media, such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD-R/RWs,DVD-RAMs, DVD-R/RWs, DVD+R/RWs, flash drives, memory sticks, and othernewer types of memories; and transmission type media such as digital andanalog communication links. For example, such media can includeoperating instructions, as well as instructions related to the systemsand the method steps described supra and can operate on a computer. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that such media can be atother locations instead of, or in addition to, the locations describedto store computer program products, for example, including softwarethereon. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that thevarious software modules or electronic components described supra can beimplemented and maintained by electronic hardware, software, or acombination of the two, and that such embodiments are contemplated byembodiments of the present disclosure.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed embodimentsof methods, machines, systems, and non-transitory computer-readablemedium having computer program stored therein of the present disclosure,and although specific terms are employed, the terms are used in adescriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Theembodiments of methods, machines, systems, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having computer program stored therein of thepresent disclosure have been described in considerable detail withspecific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It will beapparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be madewithin the spirit and scope of the embodiments of methods, machines,systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium having computerprogram stored therein of the present disclosure as described in theforegoing specification, and such modifications and changes are to beconsidered equivalents and part of this disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method to enhance core analysis planningfor core samples of subsurface material, the method comprising:positioning a plurality of electronic, two-dimensional, rectangulardepictions of structure of one or more real, three-dimensional,cylindrical core samples of subsurface material in a side-by-sidearrangement on a display, each of the one or more core samples having afirst end and a second end, the second end of each of the one or morecore samples associated with an original location within a coreboredownhole relative to an original location within the corebore of thefirst end of the respective one of the one or more core samples, eachcore sample encased in a cylindrical container thereby to define anencased core, the plurality of depictions of structure of the one ormore encased cores thereby to define a plurality of pilot images, eachof the plurality of pilot images having a first end of the pilot imageassociated with the first end of the respective core sample depicted inthe respective pilot image and a second end of the pilot imageassociated with the second end of the respective core sample depicted inthe respective pilot image, the respective first end of each of thepilot images aligned along an imaginary line near an upper end of anelectronic user interface; determining each of one or more portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images as one of a plurality of plannedsample types; and virtually marking each of the plurality of pilotimages based on the determination.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1,wherein the one or more core samples are a plurality of core samples,wherein the plurality of core samples have a sequential order associatedwith original locations by downhole position of the plurality of coresamples within the corebore, wherein the first end of each of theplurality of core samples other than the first core sample in thesequential order is associated with an original location within thecorebore downhole relative to an original location within the coreboreof the second end of the respective prior core sample in the sequentialorder, wherein the plurality of pilot images are arranged in an order onthe electronic user interface thereby to define a display order, whereina position within the display order is associated with the positionwithin the sequential order of the plurality of core samples of therespective core sample depicted in the respective pilot image, andwherein the display order is one of the following: from a left side to aright side of the electronic user interface, from the right side to theleft side of the electronic interface, from the upper end to a lower endof the electronic user interface, and from the lower end to the upperend of the electronic user interface.
 3. A method as defined in claim 2,wherein the method further comprises superimposing a geometric shape oneach of the one or more portions of each of the plurality of pilotimages responsive to the virtual mark of the plurality of pilot images,each of the plurality of planned sample types having a predeterminedgeometric shape associated therewith, the respective geometric shapeassociated with each of the plurality of planned sample types depictedas a different color.
 4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein theplurality of planned sample types include a full diameter sample, aspecial core analysis (SCAL) sample, a conventional core analysis (CCA)sample, and a mechanical property sample.
 5. A method as defined inclaim 4, wherein determining each of the one or more portions of each ofthe plurality of pilot images as one of the plurality of planned sampletypes includes simulating a respective position of a planned testingsample on the respective core sample depicted in the respective pilotimage, and wherein the method further comprises displaying measurementsof depth of the original locations of the plurality of core sampleswithin the corebore and measurements of depth of the original locationsof the portions of each of the plurality of core samples associated witheach of the one or more virtually marked portions of each of theplurality of pilot images.
 6. A method as defined in claim 1, whereineach of the one or more cylindrical containers is a protective barriermade of one or more of a plurality of materials that are at leastpartially transparent to electromagnetic energy, and wherein theplurality of materials includes aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC),cardboard, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), carbon fiber,fiberglass, polycarbonates, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
 7. Amethod as defined in claim 6, wherein the method further comprisestransforming physical properties of the one or more encased cores intothe plurality of pilot images responsive to one or more penetrativescans of each of the one or more protective barriers by use of one ormore computerized tomography (CT) scanners.
 8. A machine to enhance coreanalysis planning for core samples of subsurface material, the machinecomprising: one or more processors; one or more displays incommunication with the one or more processors and configured to displayan electronic user interface thereon, the electronic user interfacehaving an upper end, a lower end, a left side, and a right side; andnon-transitory memory medium in communication with the one or moreprocessors, the memory medium including computer-readable instructionsstored therein that when executed cause the one or more processors toperform the operations of: positioning a plurality of electronic,two-dimensional, rectangular depictions of structure of one or morereal, three-dimensional, cylindrical core samples of subsurface materialin a side-by-side arrangement on one or more of the one or moredisplays, each of the one or more core samples having a first end and asecond end, the second end of each of the one or more core samplesassociated with an original location within a corebore downhole relativeto an original location within the corebore of the first end of therespective one of the one or more core samples, each core sample encasedin a cylindrical container thereby to define an encased core, theplurality of depictions of structure of the one or more encased coresthereby to define a plurality of pilot images, each of the plurality ofpilot images having a first end of the pilot image associated with thefirst end of the respective core sample depicted in the respective pilotimage and a second end of the pilot image associated with the second endof the respective core sample depicted in the respective pilot image,the respective first end of each of the pilot images aligned along animaginary line near the upper end of the electronic user interface, anddetermining each of one or more portions of each of the plurality ofpilot images as one of a plurality of planned sample types; andvirtually marking each of the plurality of pilot images based on thedetermination.
 9. A machine as defined in claim 8, wherein the one ormore core samples are a plurality of core samples, wherein the pluralityof core samples have a sequential order associated with originallocations by downhole position of the plurality of core samples withinthe corebore, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of coresamples other than the first core sample in the sequential order isassociated with an original location within the corebore downholerelative to an original location within the corebore of the second endof the respective prior core sample in the sequential order, wherein theplurality of pilot images are arranged in an order on the electronicuser interface thereby to define a display order, wherein a positionwithin the display order is associated with the position within thesequential order of the plurality of core samples of the respective coresample depicted in the respective pilot image, and wherein the displayorder is one of the following: from the left side to the right side ofthe electronic user interface, from the right side to the left side ofthe electronic interface, from the upper end to the lower end of theelectronic user interface, and from the lower end to the upper end ofthe electronic user interface.
 10. A machine as defined in claim 9,wherein the operations further include superimposing, on the electronicuser interface, a geometric shape on each of the one or more portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images responsive to the virtual mark ofthe plurality of pilot images, each of the plurality of planned sampletypes having a predetermined geometric shape associated therewith, therespective geometric shape associated with each of the plurality ofplanned sample types depicted as a different color.
 11. A machine asdefined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of planned sample typesinclude a full diameter sample, a special core analysis (SCAL) sample, aconventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and a mechanical propertysample.
 12. A machine as defined in claim 11, wherein determining eachof the one or more portions of each of the plurality of pilot images asone of the plurality of planned sample types includes simulating arespective position of a planned testing sample on the respective coresample depicted in the respective pilot image, and wherein theoperations further include displaying, by use of the electronic userinterface, measurements of depth of the original locations of theplurality of core samples within the corebore and measurements of depthof the original locations of the portions of each of the plurality ofcore samples associated with each of the one or more virtually markedportions of each of the plurality of pilot images.
 13. A machine asdefined in claim 8, wherein each of the one or more cylindricalcontainers is a protective barrier made of one or more of a plurality ofmaterials that are at least partially transparent to electromagneticenergy, and wherein the plurality of materials includes aluminum,polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cardboard, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene(PP), carbon fiber, fiberglass, polycarbonates, and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA).
 14. A machine as defined in claim 13, wherein themachine further includes one or more computerized tomography (CT)scanners in communication with the one or more processors and configuredto scan the one or more encased cores, and wherein the operationsfurther include transforming physical properties of the one or moreencased cores into the plurality of pilot images responsive to one ormore penetrative scans of each of the one or more protective barriers byuse of the one or more CT scanners.
 15. Non-transitory computer-readablemedium having one or more computer programs stored therein operable byone or more processors to enhance core analysis planning for coresamples of subsurface material, the one or more computer programscomprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to perform the operationsof: positioning a plurality of electronic, two-dimensional, rectangulardepictions of structure of one or more real, three-dimensional,cylindrical core samples of subsurface material in a side-by-sidearrangement on a display, each of the one or more core samples having afirst end and a second end, the second end of each of the one or morecore samples associated with an original location within a coreboredownhole relative to an original location within the corebore of thefirst end of the respective one of the one or more core samples, eachcore sample encased in a cylindrical container thereby to define anencased core, the plurality of depictions of structure of the one ormore encased cores thereby to define a plurality of pilot images, eachof the plurality of pilot images having a first end of the pilot imageassociated with the first end of the respective core sample depicted inthe respective pilot image and a second end of the pilot imageassociated with the second end of the respective core sample depicted inthe respective pilot image, the respective first end of each of thepilot images aligned along an imaginary line near an upper end of anelectronic user interface; determining each of one or more portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images as one of a plurality of plannedsample types; and virtually marking each of the plurality of pilotimages based on the determination.
 16. Non-transitory computer-readablemedium having one or more computer programs stored therein as defined inclaim 15, wherein the one or more core samples are a plurality of coresamples, wherein the plurality of core samples have a sequential orderassociated with original locations by downhole position of the pluralityof core samples within the corebore, wherein the first end of each ofthe plurality of core samples other than the first core sample in thesequential order is associated with an original location within thecorebore downhole relative to an original location within the coreboreof the second end of the respective prior core sample in the sequentialorder, wherein the plurality of pilot images are arranged in an order onthe electronic user interface thereby to define a display order, whereina position within the display order is associated with the positionwithin the sequential order of the plurality of core samples of therespective core sample depicted in the respective pilot image, andwherein the display order is one of the following: from a left side to aright side of the electronic user interface, from the right side to theleft side of the electronic interface, from the upper end to a lower endof the electronic user interface, and from the lower end to the upperend of the electronic user interface.
 17. Non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having one or more computer programs storedtherein as defined in claim 16, wherein the operations further includesuperimposing a geometric shape on each of the one or more portions ofeach of the plurality of pilot images responsive to the virtual mark ofthe plurality of pilot images, each of the plurality of planned sampletypes having a predetermined geometric shape associated therewith, therespective geometric shape associated with each of the plurality ofplanned sample types depicted as a different color.
 18. Non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having one or more computer programs storedtherein as defined in claim 17, wherein the plurality of planned sampletypes include a full diameter sample, a special core analysis (SCAL)sample, a conventional core analysis (CCA) sample, and a mechanicalproperty sample.
 19. Non-transitory computer-readable medium having oneor more computer programs stored therein as defined in claim 18, whereindetermining each of the one or more portions of each of the plurality ofpilot images as one of the plurality of planned sample types includessimulating a respective position of a planned testing sample on therespective core sample depicted in the respective pilot image, andwherein the operations further include displaying measurements of depthof the original locations of the plurality of core samples within thecorebore and measurements of depth of the original locations of theportions of each of the plurality of core samples associated with eachof the one or more virtually marked portions of each of the plurality ofpilot images.
 20. Non-transitory computer-readable medium having one ormore computer programs stored therein as defined in claim 15, whereineach of the one or more cylindrical containers is a protective barriermade of one or more of a plurality of materials that are at leastpartially transparent to electromagnetic energy, and wherein theplurality of materials includes aluminum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC),cardboard, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), carbon fiber,fiberglass, polycarbonates, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). 21.Non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more computerprograms stored therein as defined in claim 20, wherein the operationsfurther include transforming physical properties of the one or moreencased cores into the plurality of pilot images responsive to one ormore penetrative scans of each of the one or more protective barriers byuse of one or more computerized tomography (CT) scanners.